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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Collect
Show favour, O Lord, to your servants and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace, that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity, they may be ever watchful in keeping your commands. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection
The image of God as Shepherd of Israel is a popular one in the writings of the prophets. In this Sunday’s first reading we have one of these images. God rebukes the spiritual leaders of Israel who behaved like hired shepherds, who do not care for the people unless it is for their benefit and the status that their position gave them. God rejects them and says that He Himself will lead his sheep.
In today’s Gospel, we find that Jesus is our God and shepherd! To feed His people with His Word! That is what Jesus told Peter to do before His ascension: “Feed my lambs … Tend my sheep” (Jn 21: 15-16).
The apostles had just returned from their journey of evangelisation. They were amazed at the works that were wrought through them (healing, casting out of demons, proclaiming the Word). They were also tired. Jesus, like a good father, took them to a solitary place where they could rest. But the people truly needed a good shepherd.
When Jesus saw the people, he did not complain because they would not leave them in peace. The Heart of our Good Shepherd felt compassion for them—SO HE BEGAN TEACHING THEM MANY THINGS. What an accurate description of the heart of Jesus. What is interesting is that Jesus was always prepared to teach on many things.
He didn’t waste time on idle talk. He always taught, taught and taught. How much then should we be prepared to give the people whom the Father has placed in our care, as St Peter said, “those entrusted to you” (1 Pt 5:3), the food they need, which is the teachings of the Kingdom of God.
“Come with me” – For the apostles this invitation from Jesus was received with joy. When he had called them to follow him, he had used the same words. What impact does this invitation have on you? “Come with me.” We might go on a retreat with the best of intentions. But what is important in any retreat is that when we search for Jesus, alone in prayer we encounter him, we enjoy spending time with him and allow him to enjoy spending time with us. How important is this invitation in my life? How am I responding to it?
“a solitary place” – in Greek ‘eremos’ which means a deserted place, desolate, isolated. Do you feel Jesus calling you from time to time to a deserted and isolated place? In this passage, the evangelist mentions this solitary place three times. It is emphasised. It is in a place like this that Jesus gives me rest, draws me to himself and gives me a mission. What he asks of me I am unable to accomplish alone. It is with Jesus by my side that I can accomplish the mission entrusted to me. How am I planning my apostolate? How am I trying to achieve it? By myself or with Jesus? What does this passage teach me about what I need to do now?
